Colorado Language Arts Society
About Us
The Colorado Language Arts Society is Colorado’s state affiliate of the National Council of Teachers of English. Fondly known as CLAS, this organization serves to support Colorado’s educators in English studies, Literacy, and Language Arts.
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CLAS is committed to endeavors that promote positive change in our profession, as well as serving to support all teachers, including those who identify as BIPOC and LGBTQ. CLAS firmly believes that a diversity of perspectives and experiences is critical to our collective growth.
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You might also be interested to know that:
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CLAS publishes an award-winning refereed journal, Statement.
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CLAS also publishes a newsletter to its members, called Currents.
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CLAS is a sponsor of the Blue Spruce Book Award and the Colorado Teen Literature Conference.
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CLAS hosts a number of events, including an annual regional conference for educators across Colorado and from surrounding states.
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CLAS hosts activities on a regular basis, with the aim of supporting educators in the field of language arts.
Awards and Recognition
History of CLAS
In 1960 a group of Western Slope English teachers met during a meeting of the English Section, Western Division of the Colorado Education Association, and began discussing the plans to create a state organization in the English Language Arts. On April 28, 1962 the group voted to form the Colorado Language Arts Society and chose their first officers.
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​The first state conference hosted by CLAS was in March of 1963 at the Air Force Academy. CLAS officially became a NCTE state affiliate organization in October of 1964. During the 1964-65 school year, CLAS started publishing a newsletter, News of CLAS (now called CLAS Currents). At that time, CLAS also started publishing a journal, Statement, which continues to serve the organization's mission to give teachers the very best in the research of teaching English.